Leveraging Legal Services for Older Adults

Overview Spotting Legal Issues Referrals to Legal Services Legal services agencies can help with a broad array of legal issues. Although this project focuses on seniors and housing stability issues, please refer other cases as well. Referrals to Legal Services Who, How, What, When?

HUBS Project Intake Questions Is your name on the deed to your house? Do you have a will? Are you behind on any bills? (e.g. credit cards, water bills, BGE, etc.) Have you gotten paperwork from a court? (e.g. related to foreclosure, district court collections cases, family law issues, etc.?

Have you gotten paperwork from a court? Easiest type of legal issue to spot Need for help is often urgent

Is Your name on the deed to your house? If the answer is NO, why is this a problem? Client will have trouble negotiating with mortgage company if she falls behind. Client will not be able to access City loan & grant programs Client cannot access homeowner’s insurance Client cannot transfer property

Is Your name on the deed to your house? What might a lawyer do to help? Open an estate Litigation Deed Transfer Negotiate with mortgage company

Do you have a will? If the answer is NO, why is this a problem? State law, not the client or client’s family, can decide what happens with any property when the client dies Often causes fighting and stress among family members Can lead to problems like tax sale where the family could lose the property If property is lost, vacancy is an issue for the whole community

I’m thinking about putting my son/Daughter on the Deed This could have negative implications depending on the situation. Strongly advise the client to seek free legal advice

Do you have a will? What might a lawyer do to help? Help you think about difficult end of life decisions Help you make a will, advance directive, power of attorney, etc. Help set up a plan that will allow you to decide what happens with your property Help lessen future stress for family members after your death

Are you behind on any bills? How could this turn into a legal issue? Sometimes debt collectors try to collect on debts that the client isn’t even legally obligated to pay There may be disputes as to whether client even owed debt to begin with Harassment by debt collectors Non-payment of certain bills (water, citations) can lead to loss of the home Client might be in bankruptcy or considering bankruptcy The sooner you deal with debt issues the better, even if there is no court case currently!

ARE You Behind on any Bills? What might a lawyer do to help? Find out if a creditor can legally collect the debt Help if the creditor has violated the law by harassing the client Negotiate a payment plan or settlement of the debt Discuss bankruptcy options and how that affects homeownership Dispute water bills and City citations